Campus Food:
The AMEX Cafe is a great place to get good, inexpensive food. It is also the main meet-up spot for students in between classes and often in the evenings. It is also perfectly decorated to make any American feel at home.

Overall Experience:
I have really loved my experience at AUP. You learn quickly how to live on your own (though with other students), manage your money, pay your rent on time, buy your own food and cook for yourself - but you have a lot of support from the school and friends, AND you get to be in Paris. So even if the first few weeks were a little crazy, I started to find my way and felt like I was getting to know the "real" Paris. Once I started my major (in the third year), I started getting to know my professors a bit more. The classes are small, anywhere from 15 to 30 students, so the professors know every student by name and can give them advice which is helpful when thinking about future jobs or grad schools. But really, the friends that I have made from all around the world has really made the experience unforgettable. I have even been invited to visit my friends in their home cities - like London, Warsaw, and Dubai - and I intend to take them up on it! AUP is such an international environment and for me, that is really the best part about studying here.

Health & Safety:
The campus and the neighborhood are both very safe, even at night. Most cafes are closed by midnight and the streets are pretty quiet. (Students will find more nightlife in other neighborhoods in Paris, a short metro or taxi ride away). There have been some cases of theft, but that is probably because there are a lot of tourists in this part of the city and that often comes along with pickpockets and theft. Students should be conscience to not leave out their smart phones and laptops where they can easily be taken. Other than petty theft, there are few concerns about safety at and near AUP.

Diversity:
Diversity is a small word, the campus represents everyone and everything. Over a 100 nationalities, dozens of religions and political beliefs - it is extremely difficult to define the campus in one way or another.

Drug Safety:
Alcohol visibility is quite high, but is not of issue on campus - everyone here is of legal age (18 in France), and nobody gets piss drunk in the AMEX. Drug visibility is low, but most students know that it is far from non-existent. I have not encountered peer pressure to a significant extent, but non-smokers are generally left out.

Scholarships:
The university-given financial aid and academic award scholarships are only able to cover up to 50% of tuition cost. Academic merit, involvement and so on cannot be used to bump that % up. There are virtually NO scholarships available to students here, as this university is not based on U.S soil - even though it is a certified American Institution.

Transportation:
The school does not offer any transportation, primarily because it is located in a very busy district of Paris. The metro and bus stops are a minute away - and are of great convenience. Taxis are readily available as well, and are popular among students - just not my thing. Some students have their own transportation- bicycles (which can be rented for dirt cheap), cars (also can be rented, with an eco friendly bonus), or motor-scooters which are ever so popular among Parisians.

Given the tuition costs, coverage for public transport (~360euros per year) would not be unreasonable to ask for, but alas we have no luck there.

Health & Safety:
Safety is great on the surface. The neighborhood is great, no incidents on campus, etc. However, there are drug and alcohol abuse situations, and even sexual assault outside of class time. I have never encountered any of the above, and I am not easily pressured into reckless behavior, but I have known people who suffered through consequences of one or the other. Not much that the school can do about these, as this is common on any campus - but our Student Affairs and Outreach seem to be on top of it.

Technology:
Overall the computer accessibility and quality here is good. There are plenty of computers available, although many are in odd/inconvenient places, and where they are most convenient there is a lack thereof. Printing is covered by the school, up to 50euros in amount - which for the last five semesters was more than enough for me, and I am a heavy duty printer person.

The wifi sucks. It is virtually impossible to get hold of a stable connection on personal computers. Laptops are not essential to student life. Most professors are somewhat against laptops, but in my program it is fairly widespread to use laptops in class.

Academics:
As a Global Communications major, I have access to outstanding professors and curriculum. The workload is moderate, with a great emphasis on research and theory in the first years. The facilities are shared with almost all other University departments, but that does not hinder the quality of the education.

The major is quite popular and is perhaps the largest at the moment.

The most significant drawback is in the name - what the hell is global communications?! The major itself is extremely broad, with various "tracks" like film, journalism, and marketing. Yet the name itself gives you, and by that I mean your employer- no clue as to what it is that you have been studying for 4 - 6 years.

Local Area:
Paris is a buzzing beehive, and has plenty of attractions and is not called the #1 tourist destination for no reason. Parks, museums, bars are just some of the many things one can do here. The cost of living however is quite high, easily comparable with the trendiest neighborhoods of Manhattan, NY. Transportation is great, which is a compromise to the meandering streets which seemingly have no pattern or logic behind their placement (but in a year or so you'll find out that they actually do).

Athletics:
As a student athlete at AUP, I pledge that the athletics here are bad. There is no gym. Each sport has a reserved practice time slot at one of many gyms across Paris, some even outside of the city. There is a severe lack of sufficient funding, and the overall regards for AUP athletics amongst staff and students is that of an insignificant club. The mentality towards sports here is of poor quality, and that greatly impacts the interest and participation rates. The department is also entirely run by a single individual, and there is only this much that one man can do.

Over the last few years I have spent as an athlete, I can also pledge for the incredible performance and spirit amongst the dedicated athletes. Our teams compete in the University League of Ile-de-France, and in the past have achieved outstanding results, despite the lack of funding, adequate facilities, and limited practice time. Another bonus is the variety of sports one can play at AUP - we have competing teams such as volleyball, basketball, football(soccer), cheerleading, and equestrian, as well as many recreational sports - flag football, taekwondo, boxing, and even scuba diving.

Party Scene:
The nightlife is alright, as in any big city there is an abundance of clubs and bars to choose from. Something to keep in mind is the transportation - for parties or otherwise. Public transport closes at around midnight, and cabs do not take more than four passengers, not to mention that the drivers will get progressively grumpier into the night.

Off-Campus Dining:
Attending university in Paris has it's perks. If the French are known for anything, it is for love and great cuisine. And boy, do they love cuisine. The bistros, cafes, restaurants, and diner possibilities are quite literally endless. Within a five minute walk from campus in any direction, one will find dozens of dining choices. The cost is average in comparison to central Paris, although the closer you dine to the Eiffel Tower, the emptier your wallet will feel on the way home. Student discounts are not very common, but there are many dining options for tight budgets. The variety of food is seemingly endless, there is Indian, Mexican, American, British, French, Italian... you name it, and it's right at your doorstep.

Overall ExperienceWhat's this?

When students moan about University life over drinks, anyone passing by would assume that the students are just wasting their time at the University and not getting anything in return. This is the farthest thing from the truth. Students have the inalienable right to complain about anything that needs complaining about, with no one better to do it but themselves. The truth is, acceptance into the American University of Paris and within the University community is one of the greatest things to happen to most of the students. There's opportunity in the name of this institution. The ability to live independently abroad and be immersed in another culture, the humor that can be found in an individual's reaction to culture shock, and the whole experience in general—all of these things collectively make up what AUP is really about.

There is a definite advantage that comes with being at AUP. There's more to University life than just sitting around drinking, laughing, and forgetting that college doesn't last forever. In the end, all the memories blur together about what new clubs opened and who was there and with whom. It's about the individual a student becomes through his time spent at the American University of Paris. This not only includes a student's University education, but also his education of people and places and how he relates to all of this in the world. The University is a living, breathing, and changing example of how every individual makes up the community he lives in. There is a definite advantage in knowing what can be done with the strength of fresh individuality and a new, open perspective.